Oil saver



Sept. 30, 1.952 I J DEMPSEY 2,612,392

OIL SAVER lFiled Aug. 1l. 1950 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED' STATES i PATENT OFFICE 2 2 zgsiaasz 2 2 l OIL SAVER .lo'hnSJ.Dempsey, Cleveland, Ohio Application .August .11, 1950, Serial No. 178,781.

10"Glaims.

1 This vinvention relates to `oil savers vand coo'perzaltirig` apparatus associated therewith 'forattachment'to the' upper .end of vwell casings. The

invention includes an improved oil saver and an improved combination of lthe "oil saver with V`a sheave support. l

"The oil saver of the invention is ofgeneral utility for closing the upper end of a well-casing and forminga 4seal around any vertical cable, rod, tube, or the'flike, .extending downwardly into'. the casing and vertically movable` therein. 'The comb'in'atio'n'of o2`il saver and sheavesupport 'is particularly adapted'for use' in connectionwith a 'ilexible'cablefor supporting a drill, swab, or other toLan'd moving `it .vertically inthe' well casing.

.One object of the invention is to provide an oil Vsaver in which the apparatus' that embraces `the cablejrod, or'tube is horizontally adjustableto accommodate lateral displacement of thecable, rod."or tube'with'respectto thel well casing. l

*Another object `ofthe invention isY torprovide a combination of l'oil jsaver and; sheave support for atool supporting cable in zwhichithe cable embracing apparatusV of the'oil "savermmay' Ybe ad-` justed lhorizontally for centering it .with the cable as'wear Ion lthe Asheave vreduces its effective diameter and" displaces the 'cable' llaterally -with respect to' the well casing. y

Still another object of the invention'is to. provide"-anv oil-'saver offsimplied design'thatposses'ses "the" yforegoingy characteristics; 'is economical tomanfactureg-aridconvenientto=use.

characteristic"feature of' the-linvention-is 'the employment oi a Y -base `member adapted to'` be mountedon''th'e upper end 4of -a .well lcasing and a mechanism lvfor embracing the cable,l Irod, or tube th'atl is .horizontally-I-slidablefon" the base :member forflcentering v.wthrzrespect to fthe cable,y rod,1-v'or tube, :and :means;.mounted :on fthe base *member that -iis operative 1to4clamp the'embracing Imeel-ianism-on the base rmemberin fitscenteredposition.

Still other objects, advantages, and features=of the linvention`willbecomeapparent from the lfollowing -detailed description'of .a :preferred :illustrative=embodimentof .the invention as employed in association with aexible-tool.: supporting cable passing, .partially 1 around: a lfssheave. vand downwardly into `thewell casing. l

In the drawing t n A'Figure lfis asideelevationiof:an-oillzsaverLand associatedvsheave support mounted.- on theupper Y end ofY a wellcasing;

Figfzis an endelevation oi the structure shown in Eigfl; y y

Figo-3. is a. planview on an :enlarged Yscaleof the oil saver shown'in'Fig. 1;

Figa is avertical sectional View'of'the oil saver 4on thesame scale as Fig.'3, .the plane of thesection; being indicated vby the line 4--4 in. Fig. 1;

Iig. --5 is another `vertical sectional View of the oillsaver on the same scaleas 'Fig.3, thevplane of section being indicated by .thelne'-i inFig. 4; and

' Fig. '6^is a side elevation of the oil saver, similar toFig. 2,'butr on the scaleofFig; 3Land .showing the'oilLsaVer with parts :thereofin diiferentfpositions.

Referring first to "Figures 1 and 2, a 'sheave support adapted for use in accordance withthe present invention may comprise "an internally threaded' tubularbase member II) adapted to` be threadedl over the openjipper .end of a conventional well casing t I. A sheave supportngarm I2 may ,be welded, or t otherwise rigidly secured, t0 the tubular 'base .member I0 and .extend upwardly at 'one sideY thereof `for carrying a sheave I3 .at its upper end. yThe v.slieave I3 .may be pivotally mounted'on the upwardly extending.armlZl by means-.of a shaft Ill mounted at its oppositeends for rotation inthelfree ends of a pair of pivot arms: 'I 6. "'Ifhearms I Iv may be pivotally. mounted atltheir -oppositejends onthe upper end of the arm- I2- bymeans of a shaft I1 extending therethrough. The arm I2is preferably shaped at its upper vend toformf'a' yoke yhaving a pairofspaced arr-ns VI 8 lstraddl-ing thesheave I 3 andI disposedginwardly 'off the arms IS'f for supporting the sheave shaft-I4. Y fr The shape 4and dimensions oithe sheave supportingv arm I 2; and the diameter vof the -sheave :I 3i are :selectedaso 'that a' cable 2m-.passing overthe sheavezand downwardly therefrom; Iwill be guided vertically downwardly :into the casing I'I substantiallyxontheA axiszthereof. f By pivctally mounting 'ther sheave .I 3 onthe. pivotarms I B ,inY the vmanner described,y l theisheave'fmay be: swung -upwardly .and to onexsiderinl :a counter-'clockwise vdirectionf. as viewedzzin-Fig l .1, ein .order "..to provide adequate clearance for therinsertionofrtoolsginto thecasing I Ia-,and forwithdrawing fthem from thecasing. vReferring Valso Yto*v Figures `3 `toi 5f 'the-y oilf saver shown iny the drawing. may comprise f arztubular base member' 2| .having its rlowereend".-tl'ireaded formountingswithin the upperendfof the base I Il of the sheave support The .Iupper vend orig-the basemember 2 I or the oil saver is preferably provided .withan outwardly-extending flange 'g2-.2- f that provides faiiatv annularuupper surface-j23 Afsurrounding Vthe bore of the basemember. ,',lhesur-` face@ .23., is: .preferably provided .-With ari-annular which other parts of the'oil saver may freely slide,

as hereinafter described, and for sealing the juncture of the flange 22 and said other parts. The gasket 24 may suitably be made of a relative soft metal, such as lead, Babbitt metal, or the like.

The upper end of the tubular base member 2| of the oil saver may be partially closed by a pair of plates 21 and 28, each of which may conven- -iently have the shape of a -half disc. The plates 21 and 28 slidably rest upon the gasket 2S and together-form a ydisc-slmped cover dividedinto two .parts along a diameter thereof. Theadja- `zentedge-s of the plates that are lengaged to form this cover are .provided with complementary notch-es 29 normally positioned in registry to form a cylindrical opening through the cover adapted to accommodate the cable 20.

When the plates 21 and 28 are brought together with the notches 29 in registry, the plates are guided by suitable means, such as a pair of dowel pins 3| mounted in the plate 28 and dowel holes 32 formed in the opposite plate 21.

A pair of lips 33 and 34 are respectively formed on the plates 21 and 28 so as to projectbeyond the vmeeting edges of these "plates at opposite sides of the notches 29 therein, the lip on each platebeing adapted Yto overlie a portion of the opposite plate when the plates are slid together into notch registering relation. The lips 33 and 34 may also be'formed of metal plates,rsuitably having the shape of disc ksegments with one-half of each segment overlying and being welded, or Yotherwise secured, to the `upper surface of the associated plate 21 or 28. y

A pair of packing holders 31 and 38 respectively mounted on the plates V21 and 28 in any suitable manner, as by welding. Each of the packing holders may conveniently be formed from a plate bent to a. U-shape and having the ends of its legs welded to the associated plate 21 or 28 on opposite sides of the notches 29 therein. `This housing structure is left open along the end adjacent the notch 29 and is closed along its opposite end by a plate 39 having an enlarged boss 48 formed therein, the closure plates 39 being conveniently welded to` theA U-shaped portions of the packing housings. The U-shaped plates 39 are both notched at 44 to provide an upper cable receiving aperture aligned with the aperture formed by the notches 29 in the plates 21 and 28.

The bosses 40 on the packing housing closure plates 39 are drilled and tapped to receive suitable adjusting bolts 4| that project through the bosses into the packing housings. On the ends of the bolts 4| within the packing housings, blocks 42 are rotatably mounted forengaging suitable packing` elements 43 of rubber,V impregnated brous material, or the like. As best shown in Fig. 4, rotation of the bolts 4| to move the blocks 42 toward each other, forces the packing elements 43 against opposite sides of the cable '20 with an adjustable pressure, thus providing a seal against the passage of liquids'and gases upwardly through the notches 29 around the cable'20. This requires that the plates 21 and 28 and the packingholders 31 andv 38 mounted thereon be held rmly together. For thisl purpose a generally U-shaped clamp'46 having elongated slots 41 in the legs thereof is pivotally mounted on one of thejpacking holders 31 by means of suitable pins or lugs 48 formed on the sides of the packing holder 31 and projecting through the vslots 41 of the clamp. The closed end of the U-shaped clamp is drilled and tapped to receive a setscrew 49 adapted to bear against the packing holder 31, and the ends of the legs of the clamp V46 are provided with notches 5| adapted to nt over a pin 52 welded onto the other packing holder 38 below the boss 39 thereon, The legs of the clamp 46 are preferably curved at 53 to dispose the setscrew 49 far enough above the adjacent bolt 4| to permit both to be readily adjusted by means of a wrench without undue interference.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the notches 5| in the legs of the clamp 46 are adapted to receive the opposite-ends of the pin 52., and tighten- .ing of the setscrew 49 against the packing holder 31 draws the plates 21 and 28 and packing holders 31 and 38 tightly together.

A pair of identical clamps 56 are respectively secured in diametrically opposite positions to the sidesvof the base member 2| of the oil saver for clamping the slideably mounted plates 21 and '28 against movement after they have been locked together by means of the clamp 46. The clamps 56 may conveniently comprise U-shaped brackets having oneleg welded to the underside of the flange 22. The other legs of the U-shaped members project inwardly and may be provided with enlarged bosses 51 drilled and tapped to receive setscrews 58.. Tightening yof the setscrews 58 eX- erts downward forces on the lips 33 and 34 of the plates 21 and 28 and holds them firmly against the gasket 26.

The use of the apparatus described above may be illustrated as applied to the swabbing of a gas well. Before the swab (not shown) -is lowered into the Well casing, the sheave support is mounted on the upper end of the casing, and the oil saver 'is secured in place by threading it into the upper end of the base I8 of the sheave support. The setscrews 58 on the brackets 58 are loosened, the clamp 46 is released from the pin 52, and the plates 21 and 28 and thel associated packing holders 31 and 38 areseparated and removed from the oil saver by sliding them apart in the directions indicated by arrows in Fig. 6. The swab is attached to the end of the` cable 2Q and is passed downwardly through' the base member 2| of the oil saver, throughthe base ||l of the sheave support, and into the casing, .where it is suspended by the cable '20 passing overv the sheave I3 to a suitable power driven reel (not shown).

At this point, if desired, the plates 21 land 28 may be replaced on the oil saver loosely in the positions shown in Fig. 6 and rest there as the cable 28 is paid out to lower the swab into rthe well. However, the plates 2.1 and 28 may be replaced on the oil saver at any time after insertion of the swab into the casing and before danger of a blow-oli during raising offthe swab from `the well. Depending upon the well conditions, the swab may be raised a considerable distance from the bottom of the well before it becomes necessary to kmove and lock the plates 21 and 28'together and to adjust the packing elements 43 tightly against the cable by means of the packing bolts 4|.

After the packing elements 43 have thus been set tightly against the cable, the setscrews 58 are tightened to hold the plates 21 and 28 against the gasket 26 with the associated packing structure in perfect alignment with the vertical path of travel of the cable 20. Thus, if the vertical path of travel of the cable is not centered perfectly on the axis of the well casing on whichk the oil saver is mounted because of Wear on the sheave |3 or misalignment from other causes, the lateral positions of the plates '21 and 28 and the packing structure carried thereby will automatically be centered with respect to the cable'and andasse of. the. well casing', it maybe. removed after the setscrews: 58y have: been loosened. and. the clampi has been removed from the pin 52 to permit the plates 21; andV 28 again to bel withdrawn andremoved: in the directions indicated in Figure 6.

From the' foregoing. description. ofa preferred embodiment ofthe invention and the manner in which; it is' employed in. practice, it will be' apparent that I have provided a simple and inexpensiveoiltsaver and sheave supporting structure infwhich' the packing structure ofthe oil saver is self. adjusting horizontally, in. thev normal". course ofits use', to accommodate lateral displacement orfmisalignment of a cable: rod', tube, or thelike, extending downwardly therethrough'. The rug.- ged -character of thev structureY and the simplicity of.. its .operation contribute to make. it aehighly useful, safe, and economical apparatus for performing the protective functions foruwhich. itis intended.

It will also: be apparent that the particular structure shown; and described: for illustrative purposes may be varied. in numerous respects without departing. froml the true scope .of theinvention,. as` ldefined. in. the. appended claims. While. the use of the invention. has been illustrated.' particularly with. reference to the swabhing of a well, it will be. understood that theA invention is equally useful in numerous other operations' in which' a flexible cable or Wire, or a rigid rod,. hollow tube, or the like, is extended downwardly into a well casing for vertical movement therein and it is desired to seal the upper end of the casing against the escape of. gases, liquids, or' both. f

Having described my invention, I' claim:Y

1. An oil saver comprising a tubular base member having a lower end for attachment to a-well casing and a flat annular upper surface surrounding the bore thereof, a pair of closure plates slideably supported on said surface, said plates havingl adjacent horizontally aligned edges adapted to be engaged when said plates are slid together along said surface to form a cover'substantially closing said bore, a vertical passage through said cover formed by registering notches in the adjacent horizontally aligned edges of said plates, cooperating guide means carried by said plates for guiding them intonotch registering relation when they are slide together valong said surface, a pair of lips disposed on opposite-sides of the vertical passage defined by said notches, each of said lips being rigidly secured to one of said plates and overlying the other when the plates are slidtogether into notch registering relation, anadjustable clamp mounted on one-of said plates and cooperating means mounted on the other of said plates for drawing the platestogether into notch registering relation while the plates are slideable together along said surface,

and means operatively mounted on said basealigned'. with the.: axis of said bore; or later@ditv offset therefrom; .-f

`2; An; 'oil saver: comprising:a:tubulanbasemem; berrhavingf. a, lower end forfattachment-,toa well casing' and a flat annularuppersurfacesurround; ing; the bore.= thereof, apairof'closure, plates slides ably supported. on4 said surface, said pIateshazv-f ingradjacent. edges.` adaptedv to be: engaged when said plates: are: slid together along saidr Surface tol form accver: substantially closing said bora a vertical, passage through said cover formed by registering. .notches in. the adjacent edges ofsaid plates, cooperating guidemeans on said plates,` f0.1; guiding, them., into notch. registering-` relation whentheyv .are slid., together: along said surface, a pair. of. lipsrespectivelyl formed on said plates and, projecting-.beyond the meeting edges thereof on oppositesides of the.l notchestherein, thelip on eachv plateoverlying a portion `of the other plate whenthe. plates are. slid .together into notch registering relation, a pair of. packing holders re.- spectively mountedon said platesfor embracing opposite sides of a vertical cable .extending down-.- wardly through said hole when said platesare slid ,together in notch. registering relationy and means operatively mounted on said base member for applying forces downwardly on said lips to clamp said. plates in bore closing relation .toward said surface with said notches in registry.

3.- Anoil saver comprising a. tubular base member having a lower end for attachment to a `well casing-and a flat annular upper surface sur.-

rounding. the bore thereof, a. pair of closure plates slideably `supported on said surface, said plates having adjacent edges adapted to be engaged when `said plates are slid together along said surface to form a cover substantially closing said bore, a vertical passage through saidcover formed by registering notches in the adjacent edges of said plates, cooperating guide means on said plates for guiding them into notch registering relation when they are slid together along said surface, a pair of lips respectively formed on said plates and projecting beyond the meeting edges thereof on opposite sides of the notches therein, the lip on each plate overlying a portion of lthe other plate when the plates are slid together into notch registering relation, a pair of packing holders respectively mounted on said plates for embracing opposite sides of a vertical cable extending downwardly through said hole when said plates are slid together in notch registering relation, an adjustable clamp mounted on one of said platesl and clamp engaging means mounted on the other of said plates for coaction to draw the adjacent edges of said plates together without restricting them from sliding together yalong said surface, and means operatively mounted on the upper end of said base member for applying forces' downwardly on said lips to clamp said plates in bore closing relation toward said surface.

4. In combination, a well casing, a sheave supportmounted on the upper open ,end'of said casing, a 'sheave rotatably `mounted on the upper .end

of said sheave support for guiding `a cable generally axiallyA into said casing, and an oil saver comprising 1a tubular base member mounted' over ithe upper open endof said casing and `having a flat annular upper surface surrounding the bore thereof, a pair of closure plates slideably supported on said surface, said plates having adjacent horizontally aligned edges adapted to be engaged when said plates are slid together along said surface to form a cover substantially closing said bore', a vertical passage through said cover formed by registering notches inthe adjacent horizontally` aligned edges of said plates and adaptedl to receivesaid cable, cooperating guide means ,carried by said plates for l"guiding them into notch registering relation when they are-:slid together along said surface, a pair of plate lips disposed on opposite sides of the vertical passage dened by said notches, each of said lips being rigidly secured to one of. said'. plates and overlying the other when the platesare slid together into notchv registering relation..- anv adjustable Aclamp mounted on one of said vplates and cooperating means, mounted on the otherv of said plates forfdrawing` the plates together into notch registering relationwhile theplates are slideable together along said surface, and mean-s operatively mounted'on said :base member for applying forcedownwardly on said lips to clamp said lplates in bore closingrelation toward saidV surface with the registered notches disposed'at a selected position on the axis of or offset from the axis of said bore. f Y

5. In combination, a. sheave supportcomprising a tubular fitting for mounting Onthe' upper open end of a well casing, an upwardly extending arm mounted on said litting, and a sheaverotatably mounted on said arm for guiding a cable generallyv axially into said. tting vand an oil saver comprising a Vtubular baseV member having av lower end mounted on said'ltting coaxially therewith and having a flat annular upper. surface surrounding the. bore thereof, a pair of closure'plates slideably supported in side byside relation on said surface, vsaid plates having adjacent edges -adapted to be engaged when said plates arelsli-d together along said surface to form a cover substantially closing said bore, a vertical passage through said cover formed by registering notches in the adjacent edges of said platesand adapted to receive said cable, cooperating guide means carried by said platesgfor guiding them into notch registering relation whenthey are slid together along said vsurfacapa, pair of lips respectively formed on said plates and projecting beyond the meeting vedges thereof on opposite sides of the notches therein, the rlip on each plate overlying a portion of the other plate when the plates are slid together into notch registering relation, an adjustable clamp mounted on one of said plates and cooperating means mounted on the other of said plates for drawing the plates together into notch registering relation inde :pendently ofk their location and-orientation on said surface, and means operatively mounted on said base member for applying force downwardly on said lips to clamp said plates in bore closing relation toward said surface with the registered notches disposed at a selected position on the axis of or offset laterally in any direction from the axis of said bore. p v.

6. In combination, a sheave support'comprising a tubular iitting for mounting on the upper open end of a well casing, anupwardly extending arm mounted on said fitting, anda sheave rotatably mounted on said arm for guiding a cable generally axially into said fitting and an oil 4saver comprising a tubularbase member having a lower end vmounted on said fitting coaxiallyptherewith and having a flat annular upperV surfacev sur- 8. rounding the bore thereof, a .pair of closure plates slideably supported on said surface for movement in any direction'y parallel thereto, said plates having adjacent edges adapted to be engaged when said plates are slid together .along said surface to form a cover substantially closing said bore, a vertical passage through said cover formedby registering notches in the adjacent edges of said plates Yand adapted to receive said cable, cooperating guide means carried .by said plates for guiding them into notch registering relation when they are slid together along said k surface independently of their location and orientation on said surface, ya pair of` lips respec` tively formed on said plates and projecting beyond the meeting edges thereof on opposite sides of the notches therein,the lip oneach plate overlying av portion of the other plate when the-'plates are slid together into notch registering. relation, a pair Aof packing holders'respectively mountedv on said plates for embracing opposite sides of ya I vertical cable extending downwardly through said hole when said plates are slid together in notch registering relation, and means operatively mountedzon said .base member for clamping said platesvin bore closing relation toward said surface with said notches in registry.

'7. The apparatus 'of claim 6 including an adjustable clamp mounted on one of said plates and cooperating means .mounted on the other of said plates for drawing the plates together `in notch registering relation while the plates are slideable together along said surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said adjustable clamp and cooperating means are respectively freely movable with and carried bythe plateson which they are `respectively mounted, whereby said plates maybe drawn together in notch registering relation irrespective of their position on said annular upper surface. 1

9. The apparatus of claim 2 including an` adjustable clamp mounted on one of said plates for movement therewith andv cooperative means mounted on the other of said plates lfor movement therewith and engageable by said clamp for drawing the plates together in notch registering relation independently of the location and orientation of said plates on said annular upper surface. .i

l0. The apparatus off claim 3 'in which said adjustable, clamp and cooperating means are respectively freely movable with and carried entirely by the plates'on whichthey are respectively mounted, whereby said plates -may be drawn together in notch registering relation irrespective of their position on said annular upper surface.

. JOHN J. DEMPsnY. y

v-REFiz'faEN'C'121s CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT 2,306,617 Dick Deo. 29, 1942 

